Sunday, November 30, 2014

Dental care is part of your health!



It is almost the end of the year and many people are about to lose thousands of dollars if they don't use the accrual dental benefits of their dental insurance plan. The dental benefits of many insurance plans resets in January 1. This means that whatever unused portion left unused cannot be carried over to the next calendar year. This fact was brought to my attention by a Pembroke Pines dentist I used to visit. What is more important is that what once sounded as a sales pitch turned out to be a lot more than that.

Many people don't realize how important dental health is. Your dental health can be a factor and influence on many other health issues. Dr. Stephen Gilson of Gentle Family Dentistry a dentist in Plantation Florida, explained to me that like many other parts of your body your mouth is an incubator for bacteria. The amount of bacteria within your mouth and our bodies controls many aspects of your health. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to many diseases like Endocarditis, Cardiovascular disease, Pregnancy and birth, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. This was a big surprise to me and a refreshing scenario knowing that my Plantation dentist was actually looking after me.

My dental problems started as a result of using medications. Many people don't know that decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers and diuretics can cause dry mouth and that that lack of saliva flow can cause havoc to your oral health. Saliva is responsible for neutralizing the acids the bacteria in your mouth produces. My formal dentist in Pembroke Pines explained that when the bacteria level in your mouth is not controlled it can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease and problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? So don't blame your dentist for being pushy if you get a call from his office this holiday season. The state of your dental health could have major implications in your overall health!

No comments:

Post a Comment